New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) YSR Congress Party staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Bill to give statutory status to Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh, terming it as “hopeless” for the people of the state.

While making it clear that they are not against Amaravati, YSRCP leader P.V. Midhun Reddy said the party was opposing the Bill in its present form.

He stated that merely naming the capital would serve no purpose and wanted the government to protect the interests of farmers who have given their lands for the development of the state capital.

Earlier, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2026.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, will be amended to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The YSRCP leader demanded that the government specify the funds to be spent on building the state capital, the extent of land on which it will come up and also the timeline.

Stating that none of the 29,000 farmers who have given 34,000 acres of land received developed plots and other benefits promised by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in the seven years of his rule, he said the Bill should address the concerns of farmers.

He also questioned the need for acquiring more land in Amaravati when the government already has 54,000 acres for the capital. “Do you want to build a state capital bigger than Kolkata?” he asked.

Midhun Reddy reiterated the allegations of insider trading in Amaravati. He said that after assuming office as the Chief Minister in 2014, Chandrababu Naidu had announced that Tiruvuru would be developed as the state capital, but after he and those close to him purchased lands in Amaravati at low prices, he declared that Amaravati would be the capital.

The YSRCP member also alleged that the Chandrababu Naidu government’s focus on Amaravati was because of the big money involved in contracts. He cited the inflated rates for the development of ministers’ quarters and other buildings.

Earlier, initiating the debate, Congress member B. Manickam Tagore declared full support for the Bill on behalf of the Congress party.

He stated that a state cannot progress without certainty, and investment cannot flow without clarity.

Tagore said Amaravati should be built as a world-class capital in tune with the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

He alleged that injustice was meted out to Andhra Pradesh as the Centre failed to fulfil the commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014.

He said that the Congress party will not remain silent over this injustice. He demanded that the Centre fulfil its assurance given to Andhra Pradesh by according it special category status.

The Congress member demanded that the Centre provide all the funds required for the development of the state capital. He also wanted the Centre to support Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, IT and Pharma sectors in Visakhapatnam and infrastructure development in Tirupati.

Minister of State for Rural Development P. Chandra Sekhar termed it a historic and emotional moment for the entire state of Andhra Pradesh.

The minister, under whose constituency Guntur, the upcoming state capital falls, slammed YSRCP for what he called shattering the dream of people through destruction during its rule from 2019 to 2024.

He alleged that former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Moan Reddy created differences among people of the three regions in the name of decentralisation and three capitals.

The MoS said farmers who had given their lands and women of Amaravati were subjected to humiliation and atrocities for opposing the three capitals policy.

He referred to the protest by Amaravati farmers and women for more than 1,500 days and remarked that history will not forget Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Chandra Sekhar said after the coalition government re-launched work in Amaravati, infrastructure projects worth Rs 56,000 crore were taken up. Amaravati is also being developed as Quantum Valley.

The minister said the legislation will expedite the development of Amaravati by giving clarity. He said this was important to ensure that no one in the future resorts to what Jagan Mohan Reddy did in five years.

BJP member C.M. Ramesh said that for the first time in the history of Parliament, a Bill has been brought to recognise a particular area as the capital of a state. He said that the credit for this goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.

He alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy was hell-bent on destroying the capital Amaravati. He said that with the passing of this Bill, no one in future can shift the capital at his whims and fancies.

Ramesh demanded that YSRCP apologise to the people of Andhra Pradesh for what it did in those five years through its policy of three capitals.

The BJP member said that if YSRCP does not support the Bill, it would once again be seen as a party betraying Amaravati.

–IANS

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